The need for continuing professional education for nurses

This study was conducted among a total of 100 first level nurses, working within the St Helens & Knowsley Health Authority in the north of England. The aim was to discover the extent to which nurses were aware of the need to continue their education beyond the basic level of nursing, and to ascertain what steps were taken to ensure competence in practice.     

Practice nurses need to adapt

Nurses working in union and community health clinics have pioneered the development of the independent nurse practitioner role. One of those pioneers offers her views on future directions for practice nurses.     

What nurses say they do and need: implications for the educational preparation of nurses

The scope of contemporary nursing is a critical factor in determining the appropriate educational preparation of nurses today and in the future. This qualitative study involved interviewing nurses throughout Australia in a variety of work and geographical settings to develop a snapshot of what nurses are doing, the skills needed and the challenges faced.The snapshot of contemporary practice that emerged is one of considerable diversity, which poses challenges for educators of nurses in terms of what constitutes appropriate or adequate educational preparation for nurses. Understandings of what constitutes clinical skills, and consequently clinical education, are explored as is what calls for 'more' clinical education may actually mean. Caution is raised about educating for present needs that are based on limited conceptions of what constitutes a nursing workplace. It is argued that education for nurses, both initial and on going, must be cognizant of educating for what might be, not simply somewhat short-term imperatives.     

Alcohol education for patients: some nurses need persuading

Nurses form the largest group of health care workers and given their repeated contact with patients are in a good position to develop their health education role. Alcohol is the third major cause of morbidity and mortality and alcohol education is an important part of patient care. As part of a prospective study to assess the effects of early identification and education for those patients drinking to excess, we assessed nurses' attitudes towards screening patients for alcohol related problems, their knowledge of what constituted harmful drinking and their views on alcohol education for those at risk of harming their health. While nurses themselves were receptive to alcohol education a sizeable proportion remained unconvinced of the long term benefits of education for those who drink to excess. Alcohol researchers and health education still have some way to go in persuading health professionals of the benefits of incorporating health education into their everyday practices.